𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒)

Nearing Death (2024) – The Curse of the Hungry Spirit

Nearing Death is a 2024 Indonesian horror film that delves into the terrifying consequences of making deals with dark forces.

Set in a small village where beliefs in spirits and black magic still persist, the story follows a desperate single mother who unknowingly invites a horrifying curse into her life. What starts as a way to improve her livelihood soon turns into a nightmare beyond her worst fears.

Plot Summary

A Desperate Choice

Sekar is a single mother raising three young children alone after her husband died in a mysterious accident. To make ends meet, she runs a small food stall on the roadside. However, she soon notices that her food spoils unusually fast, driving away customers and worsening her financial struggles.

One day, a neighbor tells her about Mak Ambar, a powerful shaman known for helping food vendors attract more customers using a mystical talisman called Penglaris. This dark ritual supposedly keeps food fresh and ensures a steady flow of customers.

Despite her fear of the unknown, Sekar, driven by desperation, seeks Mak Ambar’s help. The shaman warns her that Penglaris comes with a price—strict rules that must never be broken. But with her children’s future on the line, Sekar agrees to perform the ritual, unaware of the horrors it will unleash.

The Door to the Spirit World Opens

Immediately after receiving the Penglaris talisman, Sekar's business flourishes. Her food remains fresh, customers flood in, and her income skyrockets. For the first time in years, her family enjoys financial stability.

But soon, strange occurrences begin.

Every night, Sekar senses a shadowy figure standing by her bed, silently watching her. Distant whispers echo through her small home. Objects shift on their own. Her children start behaving oddly—talking to invisible figures in the dark, waking up with bruises that have no explanation.

Then, her youngest son, Dika, falls gravely ill. He mutters in his fevered state about a woman in white standing in the corner of his room. As Sekar desperately tries to dismiss it as hallucinations, the nightmares intensify, and an overwhelming sense of doom looms over her home.

The Devil’s Bargain

One night, as Sekar cleans her food stall, she makes a chilling discovery—mixed within her cooking ingredients is a human fingernail. Horror-stricken, she rushes back to Mak Ambar, demanding answers. The shaman merely smirks and coldly tells her:

"You accepted the talisman. There’s no turning back now."

At that moment, Sekar realizes the awful truth: Penglaris is not just a simple charm—it is a pact with the dead. The spirit that grants her prosperity demands a price: the souls of her children.

Terrified, she tries to break the curse, but it’s too late. The vengeful entity grows stronger each night. Shadows crawl along the walls, unseen hands pull at her children’s limbs, and Dika is violently dragged across the floor in front of her screaming eyes.

With no other option, Sekar seeks the help of a powerful exorcist. But to banish the curse, she must face the spirit head-on in a ritual that could claim her own life.

The Final Battle

On the night of the ritual, a gateway between the living and the dead is opened. Sekar comes face to face with the entity—a vengeful female spirit, her eyes burning with hatred. It is revealed that this spirit was a human sacrifice used to create the Penglaris talisman, and she now seeks revenge.

A terrifying spiritual battle erupts. Winds howl, unseen forces thrash against the walls, and disembodied voices wail in agony. The entity lunges at Sekar, trying to drag her soul into the abyss.

In a heart-wrenching final moment, Sekar makes the ultimate sacrifice—offering herself to the spirit in exchange for her children’s safety.

As the ritual ends, the house falls silent. The spirit vanishes. But Sekar never wakes up.

In the film’s haunting final scene, her children stand at her grave, tears in their eyes. As they leave, a cold breeze rustles through the trees, and a soft whisper lingers in the wind:

"Live well, my children."

Ending & Themes

Nearing Death doesn’t just deliver supernatural horror—it serves as a cautionary tale about human greed and the dangers of meddling with forces beyond our control. The film leaves viewers with a chilling realization: once you step into the realm of darkness, there may be no way back.

Why You Should Watch

• A Haunting Atmosphere: Dim lighting, eerie shadows, and spine-chilling sound design keep viewers on edge.
• Dark Rituals & Forbidden Magic: The film explores Indonesia’s deep-rooted beliefs in black magic and spirit contracts, making for an authentically terrifying experience.
• A Tragic Ending: Unlike most horror films, there’s no last-minute salvation—only the devastating consequences of one’s choices.

Would you dare to face the horrors of Nearing Death? 🎥👻🔥